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Adventure sports always involve risk. People jump out of airplanes, but they come out of it unharmed. How? They plan for the activity appropriately and they adjust their perspective. With enough work in these two areas, taking a Colorado river rafting trip can be a thrilling and safe adventure.

Ways to Stay Safe While Colorado River Rafting

Quick Tips Before You Go

• Drink a lot of water before you go to the river. The higher elevation puts you at a higher risk for dehydration. That will ruin your trip quickly.
• Wear your sunscreen! The higher elevation in Colorado puts you at greater risk for a bad sunburn.
• It’s unlikely that you will get lost on your Colorado river rafting trip. However, you can buy a Colorado Outdoor Recreation Search and Rescue Card for three dollars. The card funds local search and rescue teams. The card doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t be charged if you got lost (you would) but it makes it so they can stay in business.

Hire a Quality Rafting Guide

There are a few tips for making sure your outfitter has a good reputation. First, check their online reviews against other companies around. When you decide on a company to look into further, ask them questions. Ask how long the business has been in operation under the current management. If they got a new manager a few months ago, then the positive online reviews are no longer as powerful because they may do things differently now. Make sure they are licensed. You can ask them about what kind of training their guides have gone through. Having answers to these questions will prove they care about safety.

Be Wary of Altitude Sickness

If you live at sea level, or at least much lower than the heights the mountains of Colorado can reach, altitude sickness is a real danger. Some of the common symptoms include headaches, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, nausea, and shortness of breath. It isn’t safe to go river rafting if you’re sick. So, precautions should be taken. Drinking plenty of water will help. So will staying at a lower elevation in a city like Denver for a few days before heading higher up for rafting. It can also help if you stay the night at a slightly lower elevation than where you are rafting so you get a better night’s sleep and have a clear head during the day.

Wear The Right Gear

This means wearing a life jacket or a personal flotation device. Make sure the jacket is fitted to your body and that the buckles are all clipped. Your guide will want to check the fit for you. Some people feel like it’s bulky and want to skip wearing it, but it’s an important part of staying safe on the water, even if you are a great swimmer.

You also need to wear a water helmet. If you fell into the water and hit your head, you might not be able to swim. The helmet will protect you against that. Remember, there are rocks in the river, so this is a very real danger.

Check with the company you’re going with to see if they offer proper gear for the weather for you.

If you’re going in the spring, you might be surprised by how cold it can still be. It’s not uncommon for there to be surprise snow in the summer in the Colorado mountains. Wearing a neoprene wet suit will make the day much more comfortable, fun, and safe. Hypothermia would be a bad way to spend your day. Wearing polypropylene long underwear will keep you warm and dry. If it’s a hot and clear day, you should still wear quick drying clothing. Bringing a cheap pair of sunglasses you won’t be upset about losing is also a good idea.

Don’t Panic

If something seems to go wrong on the water, never panic. Stay calm and listen to your guide walk you through what to do. Remember back to the safety demonstration you listened to before you went out on the water. Staying calm and handling the situation will keep you safe.